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Life Span Religious Education for Children, Youth and Adults
UUCR: Our Place for Life-Long Learning
Our church is a special place; a place where each and every person is important. We want you to be comfortable here to ask questions, to reflect on what matters to you, to talk about feelings and ideas. As a community, we value and encourage religious growth and learning for everyone at every stage of life. We welcome you!
Tim Kutzmark,
Minister
Aileen Dashurova, Director
of Religious Education and Senior High Youth Program
(SHYP)
Our Goals
Our
program of "life-span" Religious Education for people
of all ages is
intended to promote:
- the development of a strong Unitarian Universalist identity;
- familiarity with a broad range of religious wisdoms;
- the means to meet and respond to life's great questions;
- a sense of community, through widespread participation in our Religious Education program.
Our Philosophy
Our Religious Education
Program is based on the Purposes and Principles of
the
Unitarian-Universalist Association, adopted by the
UUA in 1984.
We
, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist
Association,
covenant to affirm and promote:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Religious Education Committee
The Religious Education (R.E.) Committee is responsible for the overall planning and direction of religious education for the young people of the church through grade 8. The Committee chooses curriculum, selects grade level coordinators, and supports the volunteer teaching staff. It works closely with the Minister, the Director of Religious Education, and the Youth Adult Committee. The monthly committee meetings are open to all, and questions, suggestions, feedback, criticism and support are all welcome!
Contact the Church Office if you woud like more information.
The Youth AdultCommittee (YAC)
The Youth Adult Committee is a cooperative venture composed of motivated youth and interested adults. The Committee oversees and supports the Senior High Youth Program (SHYP). YAC helps to provide a voice for the youth in the community and it works closely with the Religious Education Committee and other church committees to promote activities for youth which are relevant to their concerns, interests, and spirituality.
DRE Aileen Dashurova chairs the committee.
The Adult Enrichment Committee
The Adult Enrichment Committee meets periodically throughout the church year to plan and coordinate enrichment programs. The Minister and the Director of Religious Education provide consultation to the Committee as well as leadership of selected offerings. Other courses are presented by a variety of professionals and trained lay leaders, including church members. The Committee invites your ideas, feedback, and involvement.
Meet our DRE
Aileen Dashurova, Director of Religious Education
Aileen has a zest for life and a strong personal history of Unitarian Universalism. Aileen spent 13 years at the Second Congregational Meeting House in Nantucket and was involved in the religious education program at many levels. She was a teacher, and a Senior and Junior High youth advisor. She served two years as Children's Choir Director, she began the island's Interfaith Youth Program, and she conducted worships and ritual events. In addition, Aileen served in the governance of the church by being a member of the Board of Trustees for a term. From Nantucket she moved to Bedford, MA so her daughters Alli and Meg could attend the Lexington Waldorf School. Aileen served at the First Parish in Bedford as the Senior High Advisor, a role she continues to perform. Aileen has enjoyed sharing her worship skills and philosophy at Star Island and Ferry Beach as Teen Advisor.
Prior to assuming her current role as DRE at UUCR, Aileen has had a rich and diverse professional history. Most recently she had worked at a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center creating, facilitating and documenting programs for individuals and groups. She has built houses, owned a catering company, was a licensed daycare provider, worked as a waitress, written computer programs, and managed an appliance repair shop.
Personally Aileen's life is as rich as her professional story. She enjoys writing short stories and poetry, she paints, sews and plays the drums. Aileen has been a Girl Scout leader, a PTA board member, and a soccer and basketball coach.
Growing up, Aileen received a powerful message from her father that she is capable of doing anything she sets her heart and mind to do. We are blessed to have her bring this message, her talents and her enthusiasm to our children in our religious education program at UUCR.
Valerie Robison, RE Assistant
Minister
